USB or Firewire Interface with at least 8in/8out

[Bunjji]

I have a PreSonus Firestudio project, and I really like it. The MOTU Ultralite mk3 has 6 line inputs and 2 mic inputs, but you have to use it's mic preamps on 2 of the inputs. You might want to think about getting a Lynx Aurora 8 and be good for a long while.

[charlieculbert]

Hey thanks for the reply!

The Lynx interface is definitely out of my price range. The presonus looks interesting, but is there a 8in/8out or more interface where I don't have to pay for preamps that I'm not gonna use?

What do people think about the M-Audio Delta 1010. It's VERY inexpensive on ebay.

[Bunjji]

I don't think you are going to find a low cost interface without pres.

[charlieculbert]

Hey. Okay. I'm surprised that no company has made a low cost interface with preamps.

So also, this really sucks, but I just discovered that my computer actually does not have a firewire port, only USB.

So. Is there a USB interface with 8in/8out that would have better converters than my tascam?

[Bunjji]

hmmmmm I don't see any on sweetwater, but you might want to look around more. Does your computer have an expresscard slot? You could get a firewire to express card.

[Bunjji]

There is the M Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R, but it probably isn't too much of a step up. You won't really hear a difference unless you spend a lot more.

[gravyface]

Originally Posted by charlieculbert

Hey thanks for the reply!

The Lynx interface is definitely out of my price range. The presonus looks interesting, but is there a 8in/8out or more interface where I don't have to pay for preamps that I'm not gonna use?

What do people think about the M-Audio Delta 1010. It's VERY inexpensive on ebay.

Delta 1010 are regarded fairly well around here. Cheap nowadays too. Drawback is PCI only and Core i5/7 boards may not play nicely. Check the m-audio forums to see what I mean.

[Jimbo]

I haven't heard it, but the Roland Octa Capture would be on my list.

8 in/out @$600

[charlieculbert]

Hey! thanks. I'm looking into that roland interface, but there doesn't seem to be a ton of information on it. The price of the M-Audio one is VERY attractive. Is "Expansion Port 3" a PCI connection?

[ND_Sound]

Check out the Motu 828mk3 hybrid USB/FW. I haven’t used it my self but have herd good things abut Motu in general. And it will sample at 24bit/96k.

[dergit]

Echo Audiofire 12, like in all the other threads...

[stevens119]

Originally Posted by charlieculbert

Hey. Okay. I'm surprised that no company has made a low cost interface with preamps.

So also, this really sucks, but I just discovered that my computer actually does not have a firewire port, only USB.

So. Is there a USB interface with 8in/8out that would have better converters than my tascam?

just get a PCI or PCI-E Firewire card. Couldn't cost more that $15

[gravyface]

Originally Posted by charlieculbert

Hey! thanks. I'm looking into that roland interface, but there doesn't seem to be a ton of information on it. The price of the M-Audio one is VERY attractive. Is "Expansion Port 3" a PCI connection?

Don't think so. I believe that's what they called the breakout box cable connector on my Delta 44 (4 in/out).

Make sure it's not the 1010 LTE. Different ADDA converters.

[Snick]

I have a Roland Octa-Capture myself, but since you don't need the preamps: Focusrite Scarlett 18i6!

You can't bypass the preamps on most interfaces, but this one only has 2 so the 6 remaining inputs are true "line-ins".
You can still use the 2 first one as line-ins, and you most likely won't even hear the difference.

If you want to pay more, I'm unfamiliar with MOTU but I know they have a lot of USB devices now (they're Firewire AND USB actually).
And of course RME... for 5X the price of the Scarlett

[CPhoenix]

Add a Firewire port.

Get an Echo Audiofire12.

Problem solved.

[Bunjji]

Originally Posted by Snick

I have a Roland Octa-Capture myself, but since you don't need the preamps: Focusrite Scarlett 18i6!

You can't bypass the preamps on most interfaces, but this one only has 2 so the 6 remaining inputs are true "line-ins".
You can still use the 2 first one as line-ins, and you most likely won't even hear the difference.

He needs 8 outputs too, though.

[Bunjji]

If you are on a desktop, you can add a firewire port with this: Amazon.com: StarTech.com 4 Port PCI Express 1394a FireWire Adapter Card PEX13943: Electronics.

[charlieculbert]

Hey, the audiofire+added firewire port looks like a good idea. But what does it have over the M-Audio device besides more in/outs?

[tobto]

old RME ADI8PRO 8In/8Out, ADAT

[rksguit]

Keep in mind the Tascam is much newer than some of these others,I don't think anything suggested is a step up at all[except^^^],to step up,you would need to go PCIe RME/Lynx IMO.

[CPhoenix]

Originally Posted by charlieculbert

Hey, the audiofire+added firewire port looks like a good idea. But what does it have over the M-Audio device besides more in/outs?

Everything lol.

Stable, rock solid drivers. The only drivers better than Echo probably come from RME. Echo write drivers for other companies.

Better AD/DA conversion. They have an improved way of going about the conversion... especially the DA conversion. I can tell you a personal story here:

I was working with an MAudio FW410. Wasn't too shabby... I liked the unit. However, I got a pop in my audio one day and it sent me over the top. I was too pissed. I couldn't re-do the take. It lead me to selling the unit on Ebay, doing 3-4 weeks of research, and getting recommended the AudioFire4. All I was looking for was better drivers so I wouldn't get a pop like that again (I have a very good computer setup.. quad core... 16GB ram.. yada yada... it was tooo unacceptable).

I got the AF4, plugged everything up... and started working on a new track. I struck a drum sound. It was a low tom that came stock w/ Studio One. I swear to god... when I heard the tom, I thought my monitors were broken. I heard WAYY too much static on the tail of the drum!!!! I'm sitting there going "WTF is wrong w/ my speakers... did they bust now? not again!!". So.. I started troubleshooting. It took me maybe 5-10 minutes (too long lol) to realize that what I was hearing was ACTUALLY IN THE SAMPLE. It was just a bad sample. I had struck this same tom on my FW410 and never heard it. Why? Because the FW410's DA converters simply couldn't produce it. In addition to that... everything was noticeably louder. I mean.... SERIOUSLY louder. Much more detailed. My monitors never sounded this good.

I think went into more research.. b/c I just didn't understand why this was the case. It turns out that it's an extremely complicated and difficult task turning physical sound into just 0s and 1s... and then turning 0s and 1s back into physical sound. Think about that for a moment. How the f--k do you turn a sound wave (which is really just energy vibrating thru air in waves... like throwing a rock in the ocean) into a freaking digit?!?! Needless to say... I found my answer. There's a big night & day difference between poor/budget studio converters and the high end stuff. I don't know if i'd say Echo is high end.... but they do an extremely good job of providing very good quality converters at an affordable price.

I've never used the MAudio Delta... however since I believe it's older or the same age as the FW410.. i highly doubt the conversion is much better. So... i think it would be safe to say that the AF4 beats it in that avenue.